Republic of Ireland V Sweden - Friday, 6th September 2013 - World Cup 2014 Qualifier

At least Cox isn't being played out wide. Probably our best back 5 and front two. Happy enough with McClean and Walters with Brady and Pilkington as bench options. McCarthy is a no brainier and Whelan is always going to start under Trap, though we'd probably all prefer Hoolahan.

At least the bench has decent options. Clark can cover CB and LB. Brady. Pilkington and Hoolahan could all bring something accretive later. Cox is a competent but unexciting replacement up top, as is Sammon. Walters can be moved upfront too. McShane and O'Dea cause anxiety here but are usually solid enough. I'm sure Paul Green is high up in Traps thinking. Fair enough, I can see what he brings and I think most here now agree he's better than the more hysterical observers think.

I've forgotten, is Meyler in the squad?

7 out of 10 selection, maybe 8 at a push.

SF, Wouldnt McCarthy have been the anchor though?

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Probably our best back 5

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I beg to differ!

That said, I'm 100% behind the boys

Relax we will win this game, so enjoy the game and the craic late into the night.

COYBIG!

In Trap we trust.

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Originally Posted by the doc

I beg to differ

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id be quite happy to see SSL in there. I should have said "best available".

Btw, I was out drinking with a mutual friend of ours last week.

Brady's still flunking the psyche test? Maybe Trap plays that one with a rigged deck?
last question being --- what's the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

African or European?

I like the bench options, and this includes Brady. The problem is that Trap rarely uses the bench well, or appropriately for the situation.

Brady off the bench to replace McClean makes more sense than vice versa, but that's not necessarily an argument for picking the latter. One thing McClean will give us is 100% work rate and solid defence but I'd still go with Brady myself.

Didn't someone point out here that if McClean is confident he'll go outside but inside if he's not feeling confident? It'll be interesting to see how he starts.

I think a high tempo is important and I'm not sure Whelan is capable of dictating a high tempo in the middle. If nothing else McClean can at least contribute to a direct high tempo approach. But Brady is the more talented of the two and has the best delivery.

Hopefully now that Whelan's spent a few months playing with Stoke's new style he'll be a bit more acclimatised to a high-tempo passing game and will be more comfortable showing for the ball. As for McClean, he's a wicked crosser when he's in the mood but, like Sunderland last year, I don't think we'll be able to get enough bodies in the box to make the best of it. I've been disappointed with Walters unwillingness to get in at the back post the way he does for Stoke. Even that hated Andy Keogh brings that to the table.

Now now, there's a lot of love for Andy but not an option in a qualifier.

Walters is going to shed a few kilos tomorrow.

Haha, I didn't mean he was an option, I just meant that for all his lack of pace and inability as a winger he has never failed to arrive at the back post when a cross comes in. Even if the net result has been him missing a chance that would have been easier to score, a la the Uruguay friendly. I'd like to see more of that from Walters or McGeady or whoever we play on the wing.

True enough, Andy was there in the right place for that mishít pass from Wes in Sweden.

Exactly. I don't think he'll ever be a Premier League-quality striker but he has the natural instincts of a striker even when he's on the wing. Robbie was the same when Rafa shoved him out wide for Liverpool. Walters is a better footballer but I think when he's on the wing he's so worried about doing his defensive job that he doesn't make those runs even though I'm sure Trap would like him to take the odd gamble.

Yep, I think that's a great point. Walters is in his element attacking the back post (remember Estonia away?) but not from his wide right role.

Remind me though: he was attacking the back post at Wembley in the second half. Was he playing upfront then, with Keane having gone off? Cox cleared a goalbound effort from Walters off the line! (from wide right? :) )

I need reminding cos my little fella had lost interest by then and was intent on beating me at rock, paper, scissors.

http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/36-...cup-qualifiers

Bye & Ciao Trap.
You can GTF with the pension mind.

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/36-...cup-qualifiers

Bye & Ciao Trap.
You can GTF with the pension mind.

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I must read more Brian Glanville.

What struck me about the posts on WSC is much vitriol there is about what the players earn (by 1 poster!).

I was putting forward the argument to a friend recently that we're kind of in a third phase of the modern-ish era.

Phase 1 was when the players used to love the international break and give it everything. Phase 2 was when all of a sudden footballers were minted, our players were largely at top half clubs (Shay, Dunne, Finnan, Keane, Duff...) and the likes of Stephen Carr resented being made to watch DVDs by Brian Kerr and Stephen Ireland needed pink tyres on his Range Rover. Retirement in your 20s or early 30s was common.

I think we're beyond that now though. Phase 3 is when our players are rich but not hugely successful at club level and playing for Ireland is a bigger thing again. By and large these guys are very committed. Forde's "cat that got the cream" grin is infectious. They may be limited in talent by elite international standards, but a they're decent and actually likeable bunch. I think the broader public maybe hasn't appreciated this shift from phase 2 to phase 3 yet. The lazy overpaid footballers tag persists.

Discuss.

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/36-...cup-qualifiers

Bye & Ciao Trap.
You can GTF with the pension mind.

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I got as far as "There is no true passion in this Irish side",
probably the most banal line anyone can offer about the state of the Irish team and the football they play.
What's the point of that link?
'yeah man, that team have no passion, no true passion'

edit, I see AB probably just posted the wrong link, and wanted to refer to the article , not the discussion.

the article link is
http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1166-...cup-qualifiers

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I must read more Brian Glanville.

What struck me about the posts on WSC is much vitriol there is about what the players earn (by 1 poster!).

I was putting forward the argument to a friend recently that we're kind of in a third phase of the modern-ish era.

Phase 1 was when the players used to love the international break and give it everything. Phase 2 was when all of a sudden footballers were minted, our players were largely at top half clubs (Shay, Dunne, Finnan, Keane, Duff...) and the likes of Stephen Carr resented being made to watch DVDs by Brian Kerr and Stephen Ireland needed pink tyres on his Range Rover. Retirement in your 20s or early 30s was common.

I think we're beyond that now though. Phase 3 is when our players are rich but not hugely successful at club level and playing for Ireland is a bigger thing again. By and large these guys are very committed. Forde's "cat that got the cream" grin is infectious. They may be limited in talent by elite international standards, but a they're decent and actually likeable bunch. I think the broader public maybe hasn't appreciated this shift from phase 2 to phase 3 yet. The lazy overpaid footballers tag persists.

Discuss.

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That's a very nice breakdown, Stutts. I think it's a little harsh on the top players during the second era as I don't think they did much wrong but certainly they found it harder to adjust to the idea they were playing in a lesser side than they were used to. You see the likes of Berbatov having the same problem in recent years. To be fair to Zlatan, he's always made a difference for Sweden in spite of his own sense of self-worth.

Ok lets assume we are still in the mix to qualify after Sweden tomorrow, what way do we want Germany to beat Austria? A narrow victory or an annihilation? Just wondering on an Austrian psychological/morale level with an eye to Tuesday match against us?

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Originally Posted by Grafter

Ok lets assume we are still in the mix to qualify after Sweden tomorrow, what way do we want Germany to beat Austria? A narrow victory or an annihilation? Just wondering on an Austrian psychological/morale level with an eye to Tuesday match against us?

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Is there really a way to predict that? I'd imagine a narrow but eminently comfortable win for the Germans would be best, but you never know what a team will take inspiration from. If they're pegging themselves against the Germans, that could be worse than an annihilation.